Prime Minister James Marape held a press conference upon his return from Indonesia, where he attended the inauguration of the country’s new President, Prabowo Subianto. Marape’s visit was not just ceremonial, but part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral ties between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia, focusing on trade, energy, and education. Marape highlighted the significance of Indonesia as a regional powerhouse, saying, "Indonesia is the 10th biggest democracy in the world." He emphasized that the inauguration was attended by leaders from various countries, including Solomon Islands, South Korea, China, and Russia, showcasing Indonesia’s growing international influence. During his bilateral meeting with President Subianto, Marape affirmed PNG's commitment to maintaining and expanding the cooperation established during the tenure of outgoing President Joko Widodo. "We maintained and affirmed the work that myself and outgoing President Joko Widodo have started. Under President Widodo, we have had healthy bilateral exchanges," Marape said. The discussions covered a wide range of sectors, from trade and investment to energy and education. One of the key areas of collaboration is electricity supply, with PNG planning to supply energy to Indonesia. Marape said, "We saw frameworks we worked through for a change in electricity generation supply, security cooperation, and all other related issues." The Prime Minister noted that this collaboration will be strengthened under President Subianto’s administration, particularly in economic development. Marape also acknowledged Indonesia’s experience in managing land borders, pointing out that Indonesia shares land borders not just with PNG, but also with Malaysia and Timor-Leste. This experience, he said, allows both nations to engage in productive dialogues about cross-border issues, including security and economic cooperation. One sensitive issue that came up during the bilateral talks was West Papua. Marape revealed that President Subianto sought his counsel on addressing issues in the region. He shared that his advice was rooted in respecting the land and cultural heritage of the people in West Papua. "Our advice to him was to give respect to their land and their cultural heritages. Land and culture of the people on the other side is respected," Marape explained. He added that both countries are committed to finding peaceful resolutions to these issues, with Indonesia offering amnesty to those who have clashed with law enforcement in West Papua. On the economic front, Marape underscored the importance of Indonesia as a trading partner, especially for PNG’s products and educational exchanges. "Indonesia has a big market. A big market for trade and commerce in Indonesia," he said, noting that PNG is ready to tap into these opportunities. The two countries signed an education Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see over 2, 000 PNG students studying in Indonesia, particularly in technical and vocational fields. The Prime Minister further stressed that these international trips are not for leisure but for securing economic growth for PNG. "It’s the economic growth agenda of our country. So we make those travels with a targeted intention in mind," he said, referring to the expansion of markets in Southeast Asia, particularly in sectors like food and energy. "PNG stands ready to supply you food and supply you energy," Marape told the Indonesian president. Marape reiterated extending an invitation to President Subianto to attend PNG’s 50th Independence anniversary next year, which he said the Indonesian leader graciously accepted.